About:

Chen-Yu Huang, a native of Taiwan, is known for her charismatic and earnest musicianship. After obtaining her Bachelor’s in piano performance at National Taiwan Normal University, she pursued her graduate study in harp performance at University of Illinois. Her honors include third prize in the 2003 Taiwan National Harp Competition, winner of the State of Illinois Senior Division in the 2007 American String Teacher Association’s National solo competition, finalist for the 2006 National Anne Adams Award auditions, winner of the 2008 String Division Concerto Competition at University of Illinois, and honorable mention for the Lyon and Healy Awards 2011. She was also the winner of the Krannert Debut Artist Award 2010 and a recipient for Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship 2010-2011, of which she was the first harpist ever to be awarded.

Huang receives her recognition for her musicianship through various appointments. She has been the principal harp player with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra since 2012. She has recorded professionally with the Sinfonia da Camera for Albany Records and Illinois Wind Symphony with the Naxos label. In 2012, she was the principal harpist for the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and featured as concerto soloist performing Henk Bading’s Harp Concerto.

Huang is an enthusiastic teacher. Prior to her appointment to MSU, she taught at Illinois Wesleyan University, the Parkland College and School of Music Chamber Music Academy in University of Illinois. She joined the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp faculty in 2014.